Peter Pennie

Peter Pennie, age 23, enlisted at Port Andrew, Wisconsin on 9 August 1862, to William Roush, for a term of three years. At the time of enlistment, Peter was 5’ 9” tall, had blues eyes, black hair and a dark complexion. On 14 September 1862 he received a $25 bounty and a $2 premium while at Camp Salomon, Wisconsin. The 25th was among the regiments sent to the Minnesota to fight during the Sioux Uprising of 1862. During the Regiment's famous 300 mile march across Wisconsin and Minnesota, Peter fell ill and was left at Wabasha (sic), Minnesota 12 December 1862 in care of the sick (I think this means he was sick). He is marked present on every muster roll, except November and December 1862 when he was sick; and the only other remarks are on 1 June 1864 when he was promoted to rank of Corporal. He was discharged 7 June 1865 at Washington, DC. Peter applied for a pension following his service (Certificate #767882) and died 7 June 1927 in Pope County, Minnesota.

[(compiled service record) and his pension file]

John Pennie

The full story surrounding John Pennie’s service is clouded with some degree of uncertainty. He may have served in various Wisconsin Regiments as a drummer boy and to care for the sick, wounded and dying prior to actually enlisting in the 3rd Regiment Wisconsin Infantry and 22nd Regiment Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers in which he only served a few days more than three months. Three months was the minimum required length of service necessary to qualify for a pension at the time, and it appears that his record of service in the 3rd Regiment, or 22nd Regiment or even at Camp Randall, may be a formality and that his actual service as an ‘unofficial’ soldier was much longer.

What is certain is that 20 March 1865 at Boscobel, Wisconsin, John enlisted, as an unassigned Private, in the 3rd Regiment Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, at some point transferring to or from Company H, 22nd Regiment Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers. He mustered out, of all service, 25 June 1865. Various records show that he was also attached to the Permanent Guard Battalion, Camp Randall, at Madison, Wisconsin where he was also listed as sick for several days with measles or typhus. There is much confusion concerning these facts and a testimonial from his sister about his service does little to help, but it is intriguing nonetheless. According the Wisconsin Adjutant General’s Report, “Most of the Permanent Guard, though formally assigned to regiments in the field, actually performed their entire service in Camp Randall, and were mustered out of that post May 17, 1865.” He was mustered into the Guard Battalion 20 March 1865, his residence listed as Aiken, Wisconsin.

[the compiled service record (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) is just as muddled…]

“Trying to enlist as a soldier in Cival (sic) War. He was only sixteen years of age. He had two brothers and a brother in law in the service. Like most boys was very anxious to go. He was young so none of the recruiting officers would accept him. He decided to run away from home thinking if he could find his brothers or brother in law they might be able to get him in. On and on he went. One night in camp at Madison Wisconsin, he was taken sick. High fever, delirious at times… pleaded for water to drink. The doctor would not allow him to have any. After two days of suffering he managed to get out of bed and crawled from one bunk to another –drank all the water he could find in the canteens. Crawled back to bed. Next morning he was broken out with a rash. Doctor ordered him taken to the hospital tent. His sickness proved to be measles. He always claimed drinking the water saved him. They kept him in the hospital for several days. In the meantime a young man gave him a cap and canteen.

When he was released from the hospital he started out as a drummer boy. He also carried water to the sick and wounded soldiers. And did what he could for the dieing (sic). At Gettysburg he found his brother in law, at Seminary Ridge his eldest brother, Dan.

In March 1864 [actually March 1865] he enlisted in Company Twenty Second Wisconsin Infantry. Was honorably discharged in June 1865.”

[…from Experiences of John Pennie (written by his sister Isabel Scott Pennie Webb; copied and typed by Rebecca Tipton 1991).]

Sources :

Compiled Service Record of Corporal Peter Pennie, 25th Regt Wisconsin Infantry. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC.

Pension file of Peter Pennie, Certificate #767882. National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, DC.